Achieving Sustainable Development Goal Four (4) in Africa: Spotlighting the role of quality education and innovation orientation

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has damaged the global economy and business ecosystem. Also, quality education and skills mismatch have become critical in today’s working environment post-COVID-19. Furthermore, one of the 17 Global Goals comprising the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is quality education, yet Africa pays less attention to this and its impact in the workplace and organizations. This study, therefore, examined the effects of quality education on the innovation orientation of selected consumer goods companies listed in Nigeria and their role in achieving SDGs in Nigeria, the most populous and largest economy in Africa. Findings showed that quality education had a significant effect on innovation orientation. This study recommends that management and stakeholders consider the benefits of quality education in innovation and innovation orientation and, therefore, channel resources to achieve and align with Sustainable Development Goal 4

AN INVESTIGATION OF SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIVE STRATEGY AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION IN SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (SMEs) IN NIGERIA

The coronavirus pandemic has caused remarkable shocks to enterprises that have had negative repercussions on their existing capacity. To preserve a company's competitive advantage, it is necessary to provide new, sustainable products or services. Survival, customer satisfaction, and lack of longevity of small and medium-sized businesses continue to generate public discussion and scientific interest. Inadequate innovative strategy is one of the primary issues that might contribute to low customer satisfaction. The objective of this study is to determine the association between innovative strategy and long-term customer satisfaction in chosen small and medium-sized businesses in Lagos State. This study employed a survey research methodology with a sample size of 742 owner-managers from chosen SMEs in Lagos State. A questionnaire that was adopted and verified for the research was used to collect data. The questionnaire items' Cronbach's alpha coefficients range from 0.77 to 0.88. The percentage of respondents to the survey was 92.6%. Using descriptive and inferential statistics, the gathered data were evaluated (Pearson product moment correlation and regression analysis). The data analysis revealed a significant relationship between innovative strategy and customer satisfaction in Lagos State (= 0.090, t = 3.029, F = 9.176, p<0.05). The conclusion of this study is that innovative strategy is a resource that enhances customer satisfaction, sustainability, and business performance. This conclusion has both theoretical and practical consequences. It is recommended that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Lagos State incorporate innovative strategy and sustainability into their strategic vision and plans in order to increase their competitive advantage, as it may be advantageous for the environment, marketing, and product and service development

Strengthening gender equality in small business and achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs): Comparative analysis of Kenya and Nigeria

Many small business owners and entrepreneurs in Africa still see sustainable development goals as a misery. The study investigates whether sustainable development goal number five (5) is being used to motivate gender equality among small and medium-sized enterprises in Africa, particularly in Kenya and Nigeria. The study focuses on female entrepreneurs and female-owned businesses. Design/methodology/approach. A qualitative approach involving semi-structured in-depth interviews was considered with a target population of 110 participants selected from businesses operating in Embakasi East constituency in the Embakasi ward in Nairobi County, Kenya, and in Ikeja Local Government in the Lagos Mainland of Lagos state Nigeria. The primary interview data was gathered from businesses in the manufacturing, services, information technology, transport, trading, and communications sectors. Findings. From the population of 110 participants, the response rate was 90.91%. Results demonstrated that a significant number of women working in SMEs are unaware of the sustainable development goal number five (5) in the two countries despite the United Nations (UN) supporting gender equality globally. The research concludes that there is still a considerable difference between men and women in small and medium-sized SMEs in Africa, and the awareness of sustainable development goals is limited. Research limitations/implications. The restriction of the dataset from a small sample size of women-owned businesses operating in Embakasi East constituency in the Embakasi ward in Nairobi County, Kenya, and in Ikeja Local Government in the Lagos State Nigeria. The research criteria used to choose study participants were unique to the current research; future researchers may consider changing the research criteria and sample size to broaden the study's focus. Practical implications. The study advances empirical research on sustainable development goal number five (5) by offering evidence of its impact on women-owned businesses. Further, the study throws light on the need to the fact that gender equality is necessary and why women should receive funding and mentoring to help them succeed as business owners. Originality/value. The study provides a comparative study with evidence from two countries, Kenya and Nigeria, on sustainable development goal number five (5) and throws light on the relevance of gender equality on business performance as funding and mentoring will assist women-owned businesses. For Africa to flourish and grow economically, gender equality is crucial

Strengthening Gender Equality in Small Business and Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS): Comparative Analysis of Kenya and Nigeria

There is an increasing understanding that Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can protect the planet, reduce inequality and tackle poverty. However, many small business owners and entrepreneurs in Africa still see it as a misery. This study aims to determine whether the SDG's goal number five (5) is being used to motivate gender equality among small and medium-sized enterprises in Africa, particularly in Kenya and Nigeria. The study focuses on female entrepreneurs. The target population comprised 110 randomly selected businesses operating in Embakasi East constituency in the Embakasi ward in Nairobi County, Kenya, and Ikeja Local Government in Lagos Mainland of Lagos state Nigeria. The sample size was determined by relying on a prior study on women in business in Africa. The study adopted a qualitative research method, administering open-ended interviews to the respondents, and the response rate was 90.91%. Descriptive statistical analysis was adopted, and the examination of the data demonstrated that a significant number of women working in SMEs are unaware of the SDGs in the two countries despite the United Nations (UN) supporting gender equality. The research concludes that there is still a considerable difference between men and women in SMEs in Africa and the awareness of SDG goals is limited. It is recommended that the management of small businesses, regulators, and policymakers should increase the knowledge of the global goals for more awareness and sustainability adoption in African countries. This can also support sustainable business growth and close the inequality gap in small African businesse

Measuring Inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa Post-Pandemic: Correlation Results for Workplace Inequalities and Implication for Sustainable Development Goal ten

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the relationship between workplace inequalities and business effectiveness in selected and listed businesses in Nigeria. It includes an analysis of four independent sub-variables (gender segregation, incentive disparity, ethnic factors and professional disparity) for the variable workplace inequalities and four dependent sub-variables (creativity, service quality,productivity and business growth)for the variable business effectiveness.   Methodology: This study used a survey research approach to investigate the relationship between workplace inequalities and business effectiveness in selected and listed businesses in Nigeria. The survey research design was cross-sectional in this paper, and the technique was quantitative. The adoption of this design was influenced by the research problem and its related research questions. The unit of analysis for this study was the staff of consumer goods companies of Seven listed consumer goods companies in Nigeria that controlled 93.08% of the total market capitalization of the entire consumer goods sector as of October 31, 2022. The population comprised 491 employees of the selected consumer goods companies in Nigeria. A structured questionnaire with Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients for the constructs ranging from 0.77 to 0.88 was used for data collection.   Findings: The findings of this study are in consonance with the view of Bandura (2012), who insists that entrepreneurial self-efficacy is the level of confidence shown by an individual towards the undertaking of a task or position which favourably influences small business performance. The findings of this study are consistent with those of Ngek (2015); Dessyana and Riyanti (2017); Adolfina and Lumintang (2018); Budiman and Pangestu (2018); Cumberland, Meek, & Germain, (2015): Yusuff et al. (2019); Oyeku et al. (2020); Islam et al. (2020); Kale, (2020); Khalil et al. (2021); McGee & Peterson, (2019); Torres and Watson, (2013) which demonstrate that entrepreneurial self-efficacy positively and significantly affects business performance     Research limitation and implication: It recognized that the findings and implications of this paper are situated within Lagos, Nigeria, and primarily small businesses as the focus of its attention. The research can be expanded with similar studies conducted across large businesses in Nigeria or other climes. To achieve more generalizability and trustworthiness, the sample size can be raised by considering more respondents with innovative data gathering techniques. In this research, the absence of data in the majority of small businesses in Lagos was the most significant challenge to obtaining objective performance measurements, for this reason, the non-financial performance indicators were adopted. According to Khalil, et al. (2021), subjective measurements may be produced without objective measures.   Practical implication: For every business to scale or survive there is a need to have a reliable configuration of strategies of which managerial capability is key, as such the findings of this study are expected to help create a reminder of the need to improve skill sets in the owner-managers of small businesses to beat the competition and remain viable   Social implication: This research will help society comprehend the need for managerial capabilities and entrepreneurial self-efficacy for harmonious business growth and performance in operations. Consequently, generating employment and boosting firm income.   Originality/value: The paper provides evidence of the performance of small business in Lagos State Nigeria. This paper extends understanding of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and managerial capabilities among owner-managers of small businesses, and should be of particular interest to entrepreneurs, policy-makers and academia. The paper provides a new interpretation of existing sources particularly the key indicators used for the purpose of determining managerial capabilities and performance of small businesses. This research contributes to the need for greater clarity and knowledge small business secto

Crises as Harbingers of Opportunities: An Empirical Insight of Knowledge Management as Moderator Between Absorptive Capacity and Strategic Agility

The upstream oil and gas businesses in Nigeria suffer from insufficient absorptive capacity, poor knowledge management in their operations, and a lack of capability to address difficulties in the country effectively. These factors impeded their capacity to be strategically agile in reacting to the sector’s issues, eventually stifling their performance. This study investigated the moderating influence of knowledge management on the relationship between absorptive capacity and strategic agility in the upstream oil and gas industry of Nigeria. A survey research design was used. Instruments were sent to the upper and intermediate management of upstream oil and gas businesses in Lagos State. The validity and reliability of the instrument were examined, and the findings indicated that the questionnaire was valid and reliable. Smart Partial Least Square (PLS) 3.0 was used for data analysis, coupled with Structural Equation Modelling. The research indicated that absorptive capacity had a substantial impact on strategic agility and that knowledge management strengthened the association between absorptive capacity and strategic agility among the chosen upstream oil and gas enterprises in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study recommended that upstream oil and gas businesses employ good knowledge management methods and construct excellent absorptive capabilities to financially engage strategic agility measures that will guarantee greater success than their sector competitors. The study’s theoretical and managerial ramifications, as well as its limits and future research opportunities, were discussed

The Impact of Brand Awareness on Customer Loyalty in Selected Food and Beverage Businesses in Lagos State Nigeria

The pursuit of competitive advantage and increase in customer brand loyalty post-pandemic have compelled businesses to be strategic, particularly regarding brand awareness decisions. However, shaping brand management, increasing brand awareness development and adaptation which are critical activities in modern marketing has been an issue in developing nations like Nigeria. The purpose of this study is to examine effect of brand awareness on customer-loyalty in the food and beverage industry in Lagos State, Nigeria. This study used survey research design facilitated through a structured research instrument. Using quantitative method six hundred respondents from the selected food and beverage companies in Lagos state participated and data was collected using questionnaire. A total of 600 copies of questionnaire were administered to the respondents with a response rate of 100.00%. The collected data was analyzed and presented both in descriptive and inferential analysis. The findings of this study revealed that brand awareness have significant positive effect on customer loyalty. Based on the findings of this study it is concluded that brand awareness (brand impression, brand competence, and brand value) are a strategic tool for achieving customer loyalty in food and beverage industry in Lagos state, Nigeria and that  brand awareness has significant effect on customer loyalty in food and beverage industry in Lagos state, Nigeria. Hence, this study recommends that the food and beverage industries in Lagos state, Nigeria should apply brand impression, competence, management and value in order to maintain customer brand loyalty and competitive advantag